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SHOULD THE 2000 FLORIDA PRESIDENTIAL BALLOT CARDS BE SAVED?

Retired M.D. Ed Stein had an idea in the days following the controversial 2000 Presidential Election. He took out his microscope and looked at a punch card. He discovered that the styli used to punch votes made a mark on every card, even if the card was a supposed "under vote." The mark, Stein says, shows up even when the vote is not perceptible to the naked eye. He said he suggested to Democrats and election officials that microscopes be used to determine the intent of the voter. No one took up his suggestion at the time. Now election officials are considering destroying all six million ballot cards used. Stein says the ballot cards need to be preserved so historians can inspect them and determine, scientifically, who won the 2000 Election.